Salafist groups find footing in Egypt after revolution

6 April 2011

While Western governments have long worried about Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood, Egyptians are more concerned about the rise of Salafist groups, which have been blamed for a series of violent incidents in rural areas.

The Salafists have a strict interpretation of the Koran and believe in creating an Islamic state governed by Sharia law as it was practised by the Prophet Muhammad and enforced by his companions in the 7th Century.

They argue that the Muslim Brotherhood has become too focused on politics at the expense of religion. They try to turn Egypt to an Islamic state because they think there is a vacuum”

“An Islamic government is a government that is based on Sharia law”, said Abdel Moneem al-Shahat, a rising star of the Salafist satellite TV circuit. “Sharia can’t be changed because it comes from the days of Prophet Mohammed.”